Young man, several months in LA begins a search for a significant other via Craig's List. He ends up meeting a young lady and having an eventful New Years Eve together.

I liked it I didn't love it. Its a good film, don't get me wrong, often very funny and insightful about relationships, however I'm in the wrong frame of mind for the film, I'm on the fence where romance is concerned and any film about trying to find Miss Right is bound to strike me the wrong way, especially with all of the effort that it seems to require. Additionally Craig's List eludes me. There have been several pieces on NPR and TV about the wonders of the service but I'm just at a loss as to the wonders of it. Of course once the film gets going Craig's list is no important but still...that and the "need" to have a face book and my space page again feeds into the whole-is this really worth it.

Personal hang ups aside its a good little movie and worth a shot down the road. (Hell its good enough that when I get less cranky I will try it again.)

In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2007) was written and directed by Alex Holdridge.

The film's basic plot line is simple enough--two lonely people don't want to spend New Year's Eve without being with someone they can kiss at midnight. Wilson, played by Scoot McNairy, posts a personal ad that reads, "Misanthrope seeks misanthrope." He's probably not a misanthrope, but the woman--Vivian, played by Sara Simmonds--apparently is misanthropic to the core. (Well, maybe not to the core. I think we're supposed to realize that deep inside she's a lovable, philanthropic person.)

The camera follows these two as they wander through Los Angeles and undergo various adventures that are supposed to be funny. I didn't see the humor, but maybe the film was aimed at someone in a different demographic niche.

The saving virtue of the movie is the way the director shoots the streets of Los Angeles, and the inside of some of the city's abandoned movie palaces.

We saw the film at the Rochester International Film Festival, with Sara Simmonds in attendance. Even though I didn't enjoy the film, it's a pleasure to hear one of the stars talk about her concept of the character she plays, and about what it was like to make the movie we have just seen. Hats off to the festival leadership for bringing Ms. Simmonds to Rochester.

I can't recommend this film, but, if you're intrigued by it, I think it will work better in a theater. On the small screen you'll follow the plot, but you'll partly miss out on the great photography.

Alex Holdridge's film 'In Search of a Midnight Kiss' begins as the tale of a loser going on a date with a beautiful, painfully hip, but neurotic girl. This suggests a certain type of movie will follow; but as he gains confidence, and her act slips, a balance grows between them, they start flirting and the film soon starts to resemble Richard Linklater's 'Before Sunrise' (in fact, the resemblance only grows the longer the film lasts). In fact, I hated that film, but here, the characters are less self-regarding and the film has genuinely funny dialogue, coupled with interesting black and white photography, soppy indie guitar music (regulation for this type of film, but nonetheless effective) and a comic vision reminiscent of early Hal Hartley. If I have one criticism, it's that the sentimental mood that gradually takes the movie over possibly starts too soon; it's nicely done, but the film is at it's best before it settles into this comfort zone. This doesn't mean it isn't a humorous, romantic and artistic film.